Heat’s Josh Richardson questionable for Game 5 with sprained left shoulder

The Miami Heat’s Josh Richardson leaps past the Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid (21) for a basket in the first quarter in Game 4 of the first-round NBA Playoff series at the AmericaneAirlines Arena in Miami on Saturday, April 21, 2018. The Sixers won, 106-102, for a 3-1 series lead. (Charles Trainor Jr./Miami Herald/TNS)

MIAMI — As if being down 3-1 in their first-round playoff series against the Sixers wasn’t difficult enough to overcome, the Heat could also be without a starter in Game 5.

Starting small forward Josh Richardson is questionable after suffering a sprained left shoulder — his non-shooting shoulder — in Saturday’s Game 4 loss. He did not practice Monday, but the Heat are hopeful he’ll be able to play through the injury Tuesday in Philadelphia.

“It feels good right now,” Richardson said Monday. “I’ve been getting a lot of treatment today. We’ll see what happens.”

The 24-year-old injured his shoulder when he collided with Sixers center Joel Embiid while diving for a loose ball with 4:27 remaining in the second quarter. Richardson was taken to the locker room immediately after the play, but returned for the start of the third quarter to record four points, three rebounds, two assists and four steals in 19 second-half minutes.

Richardson finished the game with 10 points, five rebounds, seven assists and set a new Heat playoff record with seven steals.

“It’s a sprain. Obviously the adrenaline was pumping,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said about Richardson playing through the pain in Game 4. “He made some big plays after that. You tend to feel that the next day and the day after. It’s too early to tell. We’ll know more in the next 24 hours.”

With the Heat facing elimination, Richardson will do everything he can to play Tuesday. If Richardson is unavailable, Rodney McGruder and Justise Winslow are two options Spoelstra can turn to as his replacement in the Heat’s starting lineup.

“Everything in me wants to play tomorrow,” he said. “I’m definitely going to give it my best shot.”